SERIES & GRADE:

POSITION INFORMATION:

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:

DUTY LOCATIONS:

WHO MAY APPLY:

This announcement is open to all qualified U.S. citizens.

JOB SUMMARY:

If you're looking for an exciting career in the sciences, NASA is looking for you. NASA scientists have unparalleled opportunities to shape the future through research, discovery, and innovation. We boldly expand frontiers in air and space to serve America and to benefit the quality of life on Earth. As an added benefit, you will be joining an agency ranked as one of the best places in the Federal government to work.

Please be sure to review your resume on the Resume Review page once you have transferred to the NASA site. Ensure that the correct copy of the resume you have selected has been transferred from your USAJOBS account. If you fail to validate the information in your resume, you may not be appropriately evaluated for this position. Also, please be sure to review and complete the Supplemental Information questions.

To receive consideration, you must submit a resume and answer NASA-specific questions. The NASA questions appear after you submit your resume and are transferred to the NASA web site. If you successfully apply, USAJOBS will show your application status as 'resume received - complete.' If your status is 'Application Started,' you have not successfully applied. Do not rely on a USAJOBS email to confirm successful application only an email from NASA confirms a successful application.

To receive consideration, your resume MUST contain your complete degree information (i.e., type of degree received, year degree received, and major area of study). If you have received a degree in Computer Science, you MUST list all courses you have taken which meet the education requirements as stated in the qualification requirements section as well as the semester hours awarded. You MUST include the descriptive title, course code, and number of semester/quarter hours. (i.e., CMSC-435-Software Engineering, 3 Semester hours) If this information is not provided, your education may not be appropriately evaluated and you may lose consideration for this position. Please note that degrees in engineering technology are not considered to be qualifying for this position. If you are selected for this position, you will have to provide an official copy of your transcripts prior to entering on duty.

If you are an individual with a disability and have questions regarding the Federal special hiring authorities for individuals with disabilities or would like to request a reasonable accommodation for the application or hiring process, please contact the Disability Program Manager by email at gsfc-disability-programs@mail.nasa.gov. Goddard Space Flight Center offers a wide array of reasonable accommodations and programs for individuals with disabilities including onsite sign language interpreters, readers, and is a participating agency with the Computer Electronics Accommodations Program.

(NOTE: For additional information for job seekers with disabilities, please click on the following website, https://www.opm.gov/disability/PeopleWithDisabilities.asp)

KEY REQUIREMENTS

A one-year probationary period may be required

Applicants must possess at least a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent

PhD desired

Occasional travel may be required

DUTIES:

As an Aerospace Technologist (AST) specializing in Earth Sciences Remote Sensing you will provide expertise in the area of ice sheet research and microwave remote sensing. Major emphasis is given to improve understanding of the role of the ice sheets in our climate system involving the application of aerospace technology to improve observations of the Earth's surface and to understand Earth system processes, properties, and trends, specifically cryospheric processes. Research includes, but is not limited to, the development of new approaches to utilize satellite and airborne remote sensing data in sea ice research. Of particular importance are measurement concepts of sea ice concentration, sea ice thickness, snow depth on sea ice, and sea ice physical properties. Work will also include the development and analysis of cryosphere Climate Data Records (CDRs) and Environmental Data Records (EDRs). Studies involve analyze existing satellite sea ice data to investigate changes in the sea ice and the role of the ice-covered oceans in the global climate system. This includes complex and difficult data analysis, including utilization of highly specialized instruments, instrumentation systems and equipment, computer programs, and statistical analysis techniques. Research results will be published in scientific and technical reports in the peer-reviewed literature and presented at scientific conferences. Responsibilities also include formulating and carrying out proposals (solicited and unsolicited) for funding and evaluating research proposals. You will provide expert technical and scientific advice to the Center and to NASA, and contribute to the planning, development and evaluation of future projects and missions.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

In addition to the Basic Education Requirement, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, which has equipped you with the particular competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of the position described above.

Specialized experience is defined as research utilizing microwave remote sensing for the study of sea ice, generation of long time-series of sea ice data, and analyzing this data to study the impact of sea ice on polar climate.

Basic Education Requirement: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major study in engineering, physical science, mathematics, life sciences, computer science, or other field of science. Degrees in engineering technology are not considered to be qualifying for this position.

U.S. citizenship is required.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

NASA uses an automated system (Resumix) that matches the competencies extracted from your resume to the competencies identified by the selecting official for the position. Based on the competencies you match, you are placed in one of three categories identified as 90, 80, or 70 pt. quality categories, which are defined as:

90 pt. Category - Tentatively meets (until subsequent confirmation upon referral) the basic qualification requirements identified in the vacancy announcement and has experience in the same or similar job that has demonstrated superior proficiency in the primary requirements of the position.

70 pt. Category - Fails to meet criteria described in the 80 pt. category.
Additional application guidance is available in NASA's Applicant Guide.

Information for Veterans: The Category Rating Process protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet qualification requirements and have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed at the top of the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher.

For the purpose of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), candidates rated in the top quality category are considered well-qualified.

BENEFITS:

NASA offers excellent benefit programs and competitive salaries. To learn more about pay and benefits at NASA, click HERE.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Any applicant tentatively selected for this position may be required to undergo a pre-employment background investigation.

Individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. See 'How You Will Be Evaluated' for definition of well qualified.

Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP consideration must indicate their eligibility when applying for a position. The USAJOBS resume asks you to identify your ICTAP eligibility; the NASA Supplemental Information asks you to identify your CTAP eligibility. If you are selected for the position, you must be prepared to submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location.

As a condition of employment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify that they have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.

In order to receive preference in hiring, you must clearly identify your claim for veterans preference on your resume.

U.S. citizenship is required.

NASA's Applicant Guide provides the information needed to assist you in determining whether or not you can claim 5 or 10 point veterans preference. You should not submit documents to prove your eligibility for veterans preference at this time. However, you must be prepared to submit proof of veterans preference (DD-214, and, if claiming 10-point preference, SF-15 plus proof required by that form) as requested by the Human Resources Office. Veterans preference will only be considered based on what is supported For instance, if you claim 10-point preference, but are only able to document 5-point preference, you will be considered accordingly. If you fail to provide the required documents within the stated time period, we may withdraw a job offer and/or remove you from further consideration.

Your USAJOBS account asks you to assign a name to each of your resumes. When you apply to a NASA position, we will show you the text of the resume you have submitted, but we do not maintain the name you have assigned to that resume. If you wish to keep track of that information, we recommend you make note of it at the time you apply.

Allowable relocation expenses will be made to any applicant selected from outside the commuting area.

HOW TO APPLY:

This vacancy is being filled through NASA STARS, an automated Staffing and Recruitment System. NASA partners with USAJOBS in providing a seamless application process. Before you begin the application process, please read the vacancy announcement carefully and have all required information available. You may begin the process of submitting your resume by clicking on the 'Apply Online' link.

In order to be considered, you must submit a resume completed on the USAJOBS site. When completing your USAJOBS resume, please remember that NASA limits resumes to the equivalent of approximately SIX typed pages, or approximately 22,000 characters including spaces. You will NOT be allowed to complete the application process if your resume is too long or if your resume was uploaded to USAJobs from a second source. Additionally, NASA does not accept documents attached through USAJobs' document attachment feature.

Once you submit your resume to NASA, you will be asked to complete a short series of additional questions. You must finish the entire process in order to have a complete application package and receive consideration. Your answers will not be saved unless you finish the entire application.

You may edit a previously-submitted application, if the announcement is still open. For more information, see the Applicant Guide.

If you are unable to apply electronically for this position, submit your resume and supplemental questions to: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Resume Operations Center, Mailstop: HS50, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812. DO NOT submit your resume directly to the Center advertising this vacancy. Mailed resumes must be received by the close of business on the closing date of the announcement. Hard copy resumes requirements are provided at: Hard Copy Resume Requirements.

If you are a first time applicant, we recommend that you review NASA's Applicant Guide to ensure that you are providing a complete resume. Failure to submit the supplemental data and a resume that contains all of the required information may result in loss of consideration for positions in which you are interested.

All applications must be received no later than midnight Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

NASA's application process has been specifically developed to ensure that we only ask you for the information we absolutely need to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility. In order to apply for this position, you only need to submit your resume and answer the screening questions and supplemental information. No additional documentation is accepted at the time of application. (For example you need not submit narrative 'KSA' statements; they are not required and will not be evaluated.) In this way we allow you to focus on preparing a resume that best describes your background and abilities. For assistance in preparing your resume, consult the Applicant Guide.

Nothing further is required until requested by the Human Resources Office. At that point, we may ask you to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume. For example, we may ask you to provide academic transcripts or proof of Federal employment status. If you are claiming veterans' preference, we may ask you to submit proof of veterans preference (DD-214, and, if claiming 10-point preference, SF-15 plus proof required by that form). If you fail to provide the required documents within the stated time period, we may withdraw a job offer and/or remove you from further consideration.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

Candidates for NASA positions are evaluated using our automated staffing and recruitment system, NASA STARS, which compares your skills and experience as described in your resume with the requirements of the position. If you are found to be a highly qualified candidate, you will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration. (In some cases, individuals with priority for special consideration must be considered and selected before other candidates.) Whether or not you are contacted for an interview depends upon the location of the position and the judgment of the selecting official.

At NASA, we pride ourselves on efficient and timely recruitment actions, and you can normally expect to learn the outcome of the selection process in a fairly short period of time. In addition, to ensure that you can measure progress for yourself, NASA provides you with regularly updated information on the status of the vacancy announcement.